Convertible waistband.



R. W. GRAHAM. CONVERTIBLE WAISTBAND. APPLICATION FILED MAR. so

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

(g1/mento@ @M14/6M@ ROBERT W. GRAHAM, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONVERTIBLE WAISTBAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

Application filed March 30, 1911. Serial No. 618,014.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT IV. GRAHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Waistbands; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in waist bands, more especially in waist bands for trousers.

These garments as now constructed are either made full length for use with suspenders or short length for use without Suspenders and with or without a belt as may be desired. Short length trousers are made to hang from the hips of the wearer and the waist band is positioned a little nearer the crotch than those which are made full length for use with Suspenders. Full length trousers cannot be comfortably worn without Suspenders because they necessarily drop and become too long when not so supported or if they are tightened by buckles or the like, which are ordinarily used, they present an unsightly appearance at the waist by reason of the formation of folds or plaits which latter also render the garment uncomfortable.

The' primary object of the invention is to provide a waist band for a garment of this character constructed to enable said garment to be quickly and easily converted into either full length or t short length trousers, and either form into which the garment is converted will present the same appearance and alford all the comforts of the form which it represents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a convertible waist band which may be used either with Suspenders or with a belt and when used with a belt the suspender supporting buttons are invisible and when used with Suspenders the belt holding straps are out of sight.

Another object is to provide a convertible waist band for use with Suspenders or with a belt which is formed as a continuation of of a pair of trousers equipped with this imf proved band arranged for use with suspenders; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation with the band arranged for use with a belt; Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on the line 4-,4 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment illustrated a pair of trousers 1 is shown with the material of the upper portion extended for about two inches, more or less, beyond the ordinary waist line of the trousers to form a waist band of the desired width. This extension 2 is folded inwardly and lined with a suitable strip 3 of stiffening canvas which is slightly narrower than the extension 2, with its inner edge disposed at the junction of said extension, with the upper edge of the garment and stitched intermediately of its width at a point below the longitudinal median line thereof to the material forming the trousers top whereby the folding of the band atthe line of stitching 3a willslightly lengthen or shorten the distance between the crotch and the extreme top edge of the trousers, which distance or length is known in the art as the rise. A lining strip 4 of any suitable material is arranged on the outer face of said stiifening strip 3 and stitched to the trousers top at a point about one inch from the fold of the member 2. A depending lining strip or skirt 5 is also stitched with said'strips 3 and 4 to the trousers and eX- tends below the free edge of the extension 2 forming a reinforcing member at the waist of the trousers.

The free edge of the extension 2 is preferably folded inwardly over the lower edge of the reinforcing or stiifening strip 3 and the free edge of the lining strip 4 vis turned in and blind stitched to the outer face of the inturned edge of the extension 2 as is clearly shown in Fig. 3., y

The extension 2 is preferably but not necessarily provided with a plurality of transversely extending longitudinally spaced belt receiving loops as 6 which may be formed by stitching strips as 7 to the outer face of the member 2 or by forming transverse slits as 8 therein, said slits being preferably formed in the seams of the trousers. One end of this extension 2 is arranged flush with the inner edge of the fly of the trousers and is secured thereto for about one-half of its width, the free lower end thereof being provided with a fastening element such as a hook 9 for engagement with a cooperating element formed on the other end of the band or extension 2. This last mentioned end of the extension or band 2 extends iush with the opposite edge of the front opening in the trousers and is secured to said edge by stitching in the usual manner. The lower corner of this end of the band is cut away to form a recess l0 the coperating fastening element ll in the form of an eye being secured to the inner wall of said recessed Aportion to provide for the overlapping of the ends of the band, the end having said recess being preferably provided with a button hole and the opposite end with a button in the ordinary manner.

A plurality of buttons as 12 are secured to the upper edge of the trousers adjacent the line of folding of the extension 2 and are positioned in the usual places for attachment of the Suspenders, the row of stitching 3a being below the buttons as clearly shown in Fig. l.

When the trousers are to be used wit-hout Suspenders as shown in Figs. 2 and 8 the extension 2 is turned outwardly, being folded downwardly at the line of stitching 3EL above referred to, with a portion of said extension projecting above the top of the trousers and the other portion depending l thereover, forming a neat looking band for the application of a belt if desired.

It will thus be observed that the turning over of the band or extension 2, to provide for the use of the garment without suspendersl and either with or without a belt as may -be desired, shortens the rise or distance-between the crotch and the top edge ofthe garment., and at the same time disposes an additional thickness of cloth within the band between it and the wearer,

j thereby assisting in holding the trousers in position without the use of buckles or the like, and without any plaits or gathers at t-he waist. In this connection, it may be ob? served that the internal diameter of the eX- treme top of a pair of full length trousers is slightly less than their diameter at the waist line, which is just above the hips,

and consequently when the band or eXtension 2 is turned down on the outside, said band will more snugly fit the waist of the wearer and support the trousers in proper position on the body. A further advantage of this tightening of the waist portion of the garment by reason of the turning down of the band or extension 2, resides in the fact that a leather or other extraneous belt is rendered unnecessary, although of course,

such a belt may be used if desired. When an additional belt is used, straps 3 or other belt retaining or supporting devices are employed on the band, but in some embodiments of the invention it is preferred to omit the belt supporting or holding means.

It is well known that when a person wears Suspenders on the ordinary trousers no trouble is experienced with the fit at the waist, crotch or length but if he wears a belt and removes his Suspenders the trousers will be too large at the waist will slip down on the hips and sag in the crotch and be too long in the legs and to make them fit at the waist and hips it is necessary to buckle them in at the waist line which causes plaits to be formed at the side or back. If the trousers are made suiiciently short to wear with a belt, Suspenders cannot then be used comfortably with the same trousers.

Trousers constructed with this improved waist band can readily be worn with suspenders by fastening them to the buttons l2 thereon with the belt loops or slots disposed inside the trousers out of sight as shown in Fig. l. wWhen a belt is to be worn with the Suspenders removed, the waist band is reversed to bring the belt loops and slots on the outside and to dispose the buttons underneath said band out of sight.

When arranged for use without suspenders or with a belt the lining strip 4 extends upwardly and the strip or skirt 5 downwardly thereby forming a smooth fiat surface on the inner face of the waist of the trousers and affording comfort to the wearer.

While one embodiment of this invention has been illustrated in the drawing and specifically described in the specification, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the construction disclosed since, changes and variations may bemade, such for example, as making the band or eXtension 2 from a separate piece or pieces ofimaterial, instead of integral with the body of the garment, and other such changes as may be within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. A garment having a. convertible waist band secured intermediate its width to said garment at the upper end thereof and susizo 2. A garment having a convertible Waist my hand in presence of tWo subscribing Witband comprising a member secured ntermenesses. diately of its Width to said garment at the upper end thereof, suspender supporting ROBET W' GRAHAM' elements secured to one face of said band Witnesses: and belt supporting means on its other face. NOAH C. MAY,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set HENRY H. SMALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

